#MySubDiaries- Na Subscription Dey Finish My Salary?- Readers Count What They Spend on Apps Every Month
Every week, MySubShare explores how people are embracing artificial intelligence, using digital tools, and navigating an increasingly AI-powered world. From inspiring success stories to everyday struggles, unexpected discoveries, and life-changing experiences, every story offers a revealing glimpse into how technology is transforming the way we live, work, and connect.
Today, six Nigerians open their bank apps and count what they really spend on apps every month. They talk about ChatGPT and Canva, the free trials they forgot to cancel, and the dollar card charges that never land the same way twice. Some were shocked by the total. One closed his app and opened it again because he didn’t believe it. Would you like to share your story with us? Send it to stories@mysubshare.com
They opened their bank apps, scrolled through the debit alerts, and finally did the maths.
You know that moment when your salary lands and, before you can even buy suya to celebrate, ₦4,200 here, ₦8,500 there, and one dollar charge you forgot about have already taken their share? Subscriptions are sneaky like that. One by one, they look small. Together, they’re a whole second rent.
We asked six Nigerians to sit down and count exactly what they spend on apps every month: AI tools, design apps, VPNs, streaming, the works. Some of them were shocked. One of them closed the app and opened it again because he didn’t believe the total.
“I was paying for ChatGPT and Gemini and only using one”
— Tobi*, 26, M. Spends about ₦58,000/month
I’m a product designer, so I told myself every tool was a “work expense.” ChatGPT Plus, Google AI Pro, Canva Pro, Figma, Spotify and Netflix. When I added it up, it was close to ₦58k.
The painful part was ChatGPT. I was paying $20 on my dollar card, and with the rate and the card charges, it was never the same amount twice. Meanwhile, I hadn’t opened Gemini in three weeks.
Now I do a “subscription audit” on the 1st of every month. If I haven’t used an app in two weeks, it goes.
“My data and my subscriptions now cost the same”
— Chiamaka*, 22, F. Spends about ₦21,500/month
I’m in final year, and I edit TikToks for small brands on the side. CapCut Pro, Spotify Premium (student), Grammarly, and Netflix that I share with my sisters.
I didn’t think I was spending much until I realised my subscriptions and my data plan were almost the same amount. That’s two “bills” for one phone.
The Grammarly one stung because I mostly needed it for my project. Exam season comes, I need it. Holiday comes, I’m just paying for vibes.
“I forgot I had three free trials running”
— Emeka*, 31, M. Spends about ₦74,000/month
I run a small video production company. Envato Elements, CapCut Pro, Canva Team, a VPN, Showmax and Apple Music.
The real problem was free trials. I signed up for three tools while pitching a client, forgot to cancel, and they all renewed in the same week. That’s how I found out.
Now every free trial goes into my calendar with a reminder two days before it renews. Ehn, I learnt that one the hard way.
“I’m a writer, so of course I pay for every writing tool”
— Halima*, 27, F. Spends about ₦32,000/month
I’m a freelance copywriter on Upwork. ChatGPT Plus, QuillBot Premium, Grammarly Pro and a Canva subscription for client mockups.
If I’m being real, QuillBot and Grammarly overlap a lot. I kept both because clients sometimes ask for “a Grammarly score,” and I didn’t want to be caught without it.
What I’ve started doing is asking: does this tool make me money? If yes, it stays. If it just makes me feel productive, it’s on probation.
“My salary is ₦180k. My apps take almost a quarter of it”
— Samuel*, 24, M. Spends about ₦41,000/month
I work in customer support and I’m learning data analysis at night. ChatGPT Plus, a VPN for some course sites, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube Premium and a coding platform.
When I divided it by my salary, it was about 23%. That’s more than I send home some months.
I cut Netflix and YouTube Premium first. Entertainment can wait; the skills are what will increase the salary.
“I split everything now, even Netflix”
— Funmi*, 29, F. Spends about ₦14,000/month (down from ₦45,000)
I’m a social media manager. Last year I was paying for Canva Pro, ChatGPT Plus, CapCut and Netflix all by myself, around ₦45k.
Then my friend asked why I was paying full price for tools that let several people use one plan. We set up shared groups, and my bill dropped to about a third.
Same tools, same work. The only difference is I’m not carrying the whole bill alone anymore.
Names have been changed for anonymity.
The takeaway
Nobody here is “wasting money.” Most of these apps pay for themselves. The problem is paying full price, alone, for tools you only use half the time. A few fixes our readers swear by:
- Audit monthly. Open your bank app, search “subscription,” and list every recurring debit. Haven’t used it in two weeks? Cancel.
- Calendar every free trial. Set a reminder two days before renewal.
- Drop the overlap. Two AI chatbots or two grammar checkers? Keep the one you open daily.
- Pay in Naira where you can. Dollar cards add rate changes and charges on top of the actual price.
- Share the plans that allow it. Many premium tools are built for teams, so splitting one plan is cheaper than everyone paying solo.
That last one is where MySubShare comes in. You join a small, verified group and pay your share in Naira: ChatGPT Plus is ₦4,200/month, Canva Pro is ₦2,000 and CapCut Pro is ₦8,500 (see all plans). If you use several tools, combos like the Smart Student bundle (₦9,500) or Freelancer Pro (₦11,000) bundle them into one payment.
Already paying for a team plan with empty slots? Share & Earn lets you list them and get paid.
Want to count your own spend for the next #MySubDiaries? Send us a message on WhatsApp.
FAQs
How much do Nigerians spend on app subscriptions every month? It depends on how many tools you use. The readers in this piece spent between about ₦14,000 and ₦74,000 a month, mostly on AI, design, video-editing and streaming apps.
How can I reduce my subscription costs in Nigeria? Audit your recurring debits monthly, cancel apps you haven’t used in two weeks, track free trials, drop overlapping tools, and share plans that allow multiple users.
What is the cheapest way to pay for ChatGPT Plus in Nigeria? ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month direct. On MySubShare, you pay ₦4,200/month in Naira as part of a shared group, with no dollar card needed.
Is subscription sharing safe? Use a platform with small groups, clear rules and real support. MySubShare runs small groups, offers 24/7 WhatsApp support and lists its rules on the FAQ page.
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